Technical Lead - Improving Mental Health and

Job Title: Technical Lead - Improving Mental Health and HIV/TB Service Integration (IMHSI)

Reporting to: Principal Investigator / Deputy CEO

Location: FPD Head Office, Pretoria

Annual salary range: R1,546,646

(Please note that the salary range mentioned is indicative only. The offer to the successful candidate will be determined within this salary range, based on the candidate's relevant qualifications and experience).

Purpose of the project:

The purpose of the project is to implement data-driven, evidence-based approaches to support access to appropriate mental health (MH) care for People Living with HIV (PLHIV) including vulnerable/at-risk individuals and improve access to care and support for health care workers (HCWs) providing HIV/TB services suffering from stress, burnout and related mental health conditions.

Purpose of the position:

To provide strategic leadership and oversee the implementation of data-driven, evidence-based approaches to support access to appropriate mental health (MH) care for People Living with HIV (PLHIV) including vulnerable/at-risk individuals and improve access to care and support for health care workers (HCWs) providing HIV/TB services suffering from stress, burnout and related mental health conditions. The role includes strategic oversight and involvement in stakeholder engagement activities. The Technical Lead will provide oversight on the coordination of the work of the IMHSI Head Office based team, Senior Provincial Liaison (SPL) Managers, Provincial Mental Health Coordinators (PMHC), and the district and provincial partners that the project works with.

The position activities will focus on, but not be limited to supporting national, provincial and district level government and PEPFAR partner efforts to implement evidence-based approaches around:

1. the development and implementation of various policies designed to achieve mental health integration for people with MH conditions (into HIV/TB programmes, NCDs & devolve MH care to PHC, community level and strengthen access to care for HCWs);
2. addressing implementation gaps to improve access, retention, and adherence to effective HIV/TB services;
3. decrease stigma/discrimination for PLHIV/TB affected by common mental health disorders;
4. develop referral pathways for mental health disorders (vertical and horizontal);
5. support interventions that will help decrease HCW stress, anxiety, and burnout to improve the quality of HIV/TB services in SA;
6. support implementation science and evaluation projects to help document and refine various models.

Scope of work:

1. Technical Assistance support to SAG on policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures:
   Strengthen mental health activities within NDoH primary health care (PHC) policies and guidelines. Enhance access to quality mental health services for PLHIV affected by mental health conditions. Strengthen policies, guidelines, and SOPs for HCWs suffering from unhealthy stress, anxiety, and burnout. Improve access to mental health services for HCWs suffering from unhealthy stress, anxiety, and burnout.
2. Capacity development of SAG and DSP staff on the Mental Health needs/services for PLHIV/B and at risk and vulnerable individuals:
   Improve mental health training of PHC providers. Improve empathy of HCWs on mental health needs of PLHIV. Improve mentoring of PHC providers and CHWs on mental health needs of PLHIV. Improve retention in HIV care of PLHIV with mental health disorders. Improve the competency of DSPs to support the delivery of quality mental health services at PHC facilities. Improve HIV viral load (VL) suppression of PLHIV with mental health conditions.
3. Referral network development for improved access to Mental Health services for PLHIV and HCWs:
   Increase access to appropriate level of mental health services for PLHIV. Enhance access to mental health specialty care for PLHIV with complex mental health conditions. Increase access to appropriate level of mental health services for HCWs experiencing unhealthy stress, anxiety, and burnout. Decrease absenteeism of HCWs providing HIV services.
4. Community / stakeholders engagement on improvement of Mental Health services for PLHIV and at risk and vulnerable individuals:
   Increase community awareness of common mental health disorders, their health impact, and Mental Health services available. Decrease stigma and discrimination against PLHIV with mental health disorders. Increase meaningful involvement of key stakeholders in the development, implementation, monitoring, and improvement of mental health activities at the PHC setting. Increase community awareness of mental health services available to PLHIV. Accelerate buy-in of key stakeholders in support of the implementation of SAG mental health activities.

Qualifications:

1. Degree in the health sciences or a related field (essential).
2. Master of Public Health or equivalent Master’s degree (essential).
3. Mental Health related qualification (advantageous).
4. Management qualification (advantageous).
5. Community development qualification (advantageous).
6. Public Health qualification if not in possession of MPH (advantageous).

Registration:
Registration with an appropriate professional council (if relevant to any applicable qualifications submitted in support of application).

Required experience:

1. Minimum of 10 years’ experience working within a multi-stakeholder environment within the research, private and/or civil society environment within South Africa.
2. Minimum of 10 years of relevant management and technical experience.
3. Previous experience in leading a donor funded project as a PI.
4. Previous experience in capacity development and policy implementation.
5. Experience in collaborating with multiple stakeholders.

Additional requirements:

1. Proficiency in reading, speaking, and writing English.
2. Proficiency in another local language (advantageous).
3. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
4. Report writing and business writing proficiency.
5. Valid driver’s license.
6. Ability and willingness to travel.
7. Willingness to work in a hybrid environment.

Application process:
Interested candidates should apply by accessing the following link:
https://vacancies.fpdsiu.co.za/

Closing date for applications:
7 January 2025 at 16h00

The Foundation for Professional Development fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace. We invite and encourage qualified candidates with disabilities to apply for positions within our organization.

Please note:
Only applicants shortlisted for interviews will be contacted. If you have not been contacted within six weeks after the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.